How I Treat Hidradenitis Suppurativa Naturally

Learn how I manage hidradenitis suppurativa naturally through diet, exercise, and lifestyle. No medications or prescriptions – just lifestyle changes to treat HS!

At the ripe old age of 14, I was diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa, or HS. My doctors told me three things.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is incurable.

Hidradenitis suppurativa has no tried-and-true treatment.

I could expect HS to get worse and worse as I aged.

Great news for a freshman in high school to hear, right? Fortunately, a decade later, I found that I was able to naturally treat my hidradenitis suppurativa flare-ups through my diet and overall lifestyle.

After largely staying mum about my experience with HS since starting Do You Even Paleo, I’m sharing what’s worked for me. If talking about hidradenitis suppurativa helps just one other person, it’s worth it!

Before I get too far into the post, it’s important for me to say: I’m not a doctor, nutritionist, or healthcare professional. Anything I write is my own experience of what helped me, but it’s in your best interest to speak with your doctor or healthcare provider before taking any advice written on the internet.

Also, this post contains affiliate links to products I love, meaning I earn a commission if you click through and purchase something. There’s no additional cost to you and it keeps me running this blog!

What Is Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)?

Most often, it’s characterized by painful lumps/boils that typically develop where skin rubs together, such as underarms, the groin area, or under the breasts. The lumps form when hair follicles become inflamed and blocked. The lumps tend to flare up, then heal, and eventually scar, all at the same sites.

Apparently, no one knows why the blockage occurs. But speculation includes genetics, hormones, metabolic syndrome, or abnormal immune system response (hellloooo, autoimmune disease).

Sometimes, the boils can breach and leak, discharging a foul-smelling and sometimes bloody pus. It’s not fun.

As HS progresses, tunneling between affected areas can occur. As scars continually form, tracts connect together under the skin. When I first had surgery for HS in my left armpit, my doctor told me I had a surprisingly vast network of tunneling under the skin, which is what led to further breakouts and infection.

Breakouts can happen very quickly with hidradenitis suppurativa. One week, a flare up can cause discomfort, pain, and leakage. A week later, everything seems to have healed (although that scarring can lead to additional problems down the road with tunneling).

My Experience with HS

As mentioned above, I was fairly young (14) when I was diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa.

I had a minor surgery with localized anesthetic before being sent home with instructions for packing the wound and little to no information about hidradenitis suppurativa.

To be fair, back in 2004 it seemed like HS was rare. Understudied. More or less ignored. My mom’s internet searches primarily turned up advice like “HS is only treatable through surgeries. Wearing loose clothing might help.”

I had two more surgeries that year. Over the next six years, I had three more.

How I Nearly Eliminated My Hidradenitis Suppurativa Flare-Ups

In my later years of college, I revamped my life. And although HS wasn’t the driving force behind the changes I made (that’s a story for another day), I gradually realized that my flare-ups practically disappeared.

I haven’t had another surgery since making these changes. I’ve never used any of the medications or creams now available to those suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa. I haven’t even been to my doctor for an HS check-up, because I don’t need to.

There’s no cure for hidradenitis suppurativa. Every once in a while, I do experience a flare-up. But overall, I’m able to live my life to the fullest without hidradenitis suppurativa from holding me back.

So what lifestyle changes do I attribute to managing hidradenitis suppurativa naturally?

I eat a nourishing, real food diet

Notice I said for the most part – I’ve never been incredibly strict when I eat out. I sometimes create recipes with dairy products. My spouse and I got married at our favorite pizza place, and we absolutely go back every few months for some gluten-filled pizza.

After eating this way for a few months, I could easily attribute less flare-ups to my diet.

While researching HS a bit more for this post, I happily found that much more information is available about hidradenitis suppurativa… But I was surprised that very few of the resources I found mentioned diet at all.

Actually, since reading up on it, I’m resolved to work harder to cut dairy out of my life. For example, I’d long continued to use whey protein powder after workouts, but I’ve since switched to a dairy-free beef protein powder (which I absolutely ADORE – and if you pick some up, use code DOYOUEVENPALEO for 20% off)!

I also discovered that hidradenitis suppurativa, unsurprisingly, is on the list of “suspected autoimmune diseases”. Makes sense, since it’s an inflammatory condition!

So, it could be helpful to look into the Autoimmune Paleo diet, or AIP. It’s a modified version of paleo with a few more restrictions, but it’s all about healing the gut and reducing inflammation in the body. AIP isn’t meant to be permanent – it’s kind of like a longterm Whole30 to really get into the nitty gritty of healing the gut.

I’ve never attempted to follow AIP. Sure, there’s a chance I could eliminate flare-ups completely, but I personally haven’t felt the need to. Maybe down the road, but for now I’m happy where I’m at! However, it it interests you, please check out The Paleo Mom for more info on AIP. She’s a treasure trove.

I’m wildly picky about skincare

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a skin condition. It makes logical sense to take crazy good care of your skin!

You might assume I have a long, intensive skincare routine.

I don’t. Quite the opposite, actually! I keep things simple and nontoxic.

I stopped using deodorant the minute I was diagnosed with HS. To this day, I hardly use it. But when I do, I reach for something that isn’t full of chemicals.

Seriously, read the ingredients lists on your skincare products. All those things you can’t pronounce have no business going on your skin, especially when it’s susceptible to inflammation and flare-ups!

Beyond deodorant, I use oils instead of lotion. Currently, I use a blend of sesame oil, grapeseed oil, and rosehip seed oil — down the road, I may write a whole post about that. Less than a tablespoon of oil covers my whole body, including my face. Of course, if you don’t want to blend your own, there are lots of lotion alternatives out there that are skin-safe.

I used to do oil cleansing for my face, but quit for some reason. Soon, I’m going to start up with that again. Fatco is my go-to for cleansing oils!

And that’s the gist of it. Simple, nourishing, and nontoxic.

I’m careful with clothing

My first trip to the ER when I was diagnosed with HS? That boil happened because I was on the swim team. My swimsuit constantly rubbed and irritated the skin under my arms, which eventually caused a flare-up.

Obviously, clothes are kind of a big deal for those with hidradenitis suppurativa.

I’m kind of thrilled that looser-fitting tops and bralettes have been trendy the past few years. I’ve stopped wearing underwire bras altogether.

The biggest struggle for me, though, is underwear. For the first few years after my diagnosis, I only got flare-ups in my armpits. Unfortunately, I eventually started getting flare-ups on my upper thighs and groin area.

I can honestly attribute the majority of my flare-ups in the past 3 years to poor underwear choices.

Frankly, I’m still on the hunt for an underwear brand that fits right and isn’t irritating to my skin. For now, I look for cotton undies without lace or embellishments on the seams.

I exercise regularly

At the same time I refocused my diet on nourishing foods, I joined a CrossFit gym. Immediately, I knew it was my happy place. I’ve been working out regularly at the same gym ever since.

Exercise doesn’t directly affect my flare-ups, but I can say that I’m happier, have more energy, and sleep better. All those things promote overall wellness, and without that I’m sure I’d be worse off.

CrossFit isn’t the answer for everyone. I tried a few different things before falling head over heels for my gym. Some exercises can cause flare-ups… For example, my old workplace had a “Bike to Work” challenge one month, but I quickly discovered that biking just the two miles to and from work caused flare-ups for me.

Stress is related to that. I sleep enough to minimize stress, and I stress less so it’s easier to sleep. I take long Epsom salt baths and read books. Now, I prioritize quality time with my spouse and friends so I don’t feel lonely. I cuddle hard with my cats because when they’re happy, I feel lighter, too.

Why does it matter? Prolonged, chronic stress causes inflammation in the body, leading to more symptoms. Yeah, I can do without that.

Now, just because my flare-ups had severely reduced with natural treatments doesn’t mean another person would get the same results. If you find a medication or cream drastically helps, why quit it? But if you’re looking for ways to help eliminate flare-ups or help reduce the length of a flare-up, these changes might help!

Summary: How To Manage Hidradenitis Suppurativa Naturally

Nourishing foods to reduce inflammation – base meals around vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and meats. Limit intake of dairy products, gluten and grains, vegetable oils, sugar, and overly-processed foods.Consider doing a Whole30 or following AIP to heal the gut and reduce inflammation in the body.

Throw out toxic skincare and makeup – hidradenitis suppurativa is a skin condition, so it makes sense to take extra care with your skin (the largest organ you have)! Switch to natural, chemical-free deodorant like Stank Stop and use non-toxic moisturizers like Fatco’s line.

Clothe yourself thoughtfully – loose clothing tends to minimize flare-ups, but also be cautious of underwire bras and lacy underwear.

Exercise regularly – find something active you love to do and do it. Maybe it’s a 30 minute walk every day. Maybe it’s yoga. Perhaps, like me, you’ll fall in love with CrossFit!

Sleep more and stress less – self care is incredibly important when you have an autoimmune disease or if you’re an average human being looking to live optimally. Strive for seven to eight hours of sleep, and work in self care practices to minimize stress!

And, of course, know that none of this is a substitute for speaking with your doctor and working on a treatment plan. It helps to find a doctor who supports the idea that dietary changes can improve symptoms!

More Resources

Fortunately, many more resources are available for hidradenitis suppurativa now than when I was first diagnosed.

I'm Chelsea, the author behind Do You Even Paleo! I believe life should be full of flavor. I enjoy creating recipes that are nourishing, flavorful, and satisfying. When not experimenting in the kitchen, I usually have a camera, barbell, or mug of coffee in hand.
My posts may include affiliate links, which means if you click through a purchase something, I make a small commission at no cost to you. It helps me fuel my coffee habit and pay rent!

14 thoughts to “How I Treat Hidradenitis Suppurativa Naturally”

Chelsea! I didn’t know you have HS! Me too! There aren’t many of us in the blogging world… Joanna Frankham, Amanda Torres (the curious coconut) and of course Tara Grant (Primal Girl) you wrote The Hidden Plague. Anyway! Just wanted to drop in and say thanks for sharing your story. I know how hard it can be to talk about HS, but it really does help people! The more voices out there the better! Hugs girl!

Dang, Cristina, I had no idea! I’ve never met anyone else with HS, so to find out that 5 others in the paleo/food blogging space have it is crazy to me! Thanks so much for dropping by. I sincerely feel like HS needs to be talked about more! <3

Thank you for this blog. I’m just learning about this. My son has been suffering with this and I didn’t realize this is what it was. Also, my daughter has what I thought to be bad acne on cheeks and jawline, back of neck, hairline. I believe its a possibility this is what she may have as well. I’ve found the book The Hidden Plague that was mentioned above and will be ordering.
Thank you all!

I’m glad this post has been helpful for you, Sherri! I’m happy to answer any questions you might have. I do suggest finding a dermatologist or doctor familiar with HS to get a confirmed diagnosis, though!

I think I have this!! I thought it was a ph level problem, and was researching that but I have pcos and this came up, and I’m in the middle of researching gut health for healing pcos… and everything you’ve mentioned is what I experience. I find using seamed underwear without elastic hems around the thigh/groin area stops frequent flare ups, but sometimes I still have to change w times in a day if it’s really bad. My hubby introduced me to an athletes foot cream, and since using that it has helped calm the skin. It’s an anti-inflammatory. But as I’m working towards gut health, I’m hoping this will stop or be less frequent.
Thanks for your epic research.

Thank you, Jojo! And I’d highly recommend finding a doctor or dermatologist who can conclusively diagnose you for HS. I also have PCOS, and I know the two tend to appear concurrently. I hope that your journey towards gut health yields some positive results for you – it’s done wonders for me!

Hi, I’m fighting myself to make lifestyle changes that would reduce HS flare-ups and everything seems hard. However, you make it sound very easy. Natural. To live a good life.
Thanks for sharing your experience, hope, and tips.

Hi, Ela. I appreciate you stopping by! I know lifestyle changes can be daunting and hard. Even good change isn’t easy. I didn’t have the same struggles a lot of people do – I lived alone and had no dependents when I decided to make changes for my health. But I encourage you to make small changes – even if they seem insignificant, over time they have a big impact. Plus, once one change becomes “normal”, you can add another small change. Ela, I hope you remain positive in your journey towards better health and less flare-ups. Positive thinking and a grateful mindset are overlooked pieces of the puzzle – mental health is arguably more important than your physical health. So, Ela, look for the light in the world and keep shining on!

Chelsea! Thank you so much for sharing your story. I started to get HS flare ups when I was 13, but didn’t tell anyone or see a doctor for it until I was 16. It was very bad by then. I was embarrassed and thought “it was just body acne”. I’d miss school and convince my mom I was “sick”. I was so relieved when a dermatologist finally diagnosed me, and she tried so hard to help me. Her passion to help me still stick to me this day. I’ve since had two surgeries and a breast reduction, and shortly after discovered “The Hidden Plague”. I could hardly finish it, I was crying so hard. It was such a relief to know I was not experiencing this alone. I quickly went paleo and saw immediate changes. I tried AIP but I love food too much and had a hard time sticking to it. I never considered what my deodorant and skincare routine might be doing to my body, or what exercise could do to my health. Thank you again so much for sharing.

Chanel, thank YOU for sharing your experience with me! It seems that the worst part of any autoimmune disease is feeling like you’re alone. I’m glad you’ve found that we’re not alone in this! Please reach out if you ever need anything, girl – I’m here for you!

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About Me:

Hello! I'm Chelsea, the author, recipe developer, and photographer behind DoYouEvenPaleo. Life should be full of flavor, and I've made it my mission to bring you recipes and lifestyle advice that do just that. I feel best when I follow a Paleo template, so that's what I tend to do (but frankly, I'm not perfect)!
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